Growing gold: Yellow tomatoes offer many fine heirloom choices

Aug. 23, 2013

Growing golden, or yellow, tomatoes adds variety and color to the garden, as well as the long, heirloom tradition of these classic plants. / Rob Zimmer/Post-Crescent Media

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Black and Blue. Combining these two hot colors in the garden is an interesting garden challenge and goal. Iíll show you several plants to include to create your own stunning garden in black and blue.

When most people think of a tomato, they think of a big, meaty, cherry red fruit. To really explore the vast world of the garden tomato, itís essential to begin to investigate, select and grow the many colorful, flavorful and unusual varieties of heirloom tomatoes.

In addition to golden tomatoes, youíll find purple tomatoes, green tomatoes, as well as pink, orange and several that are striped or spotted.

Golden tomatoes often are referred to as the sweetest and offer a sugary reminder that tomatoes are, in fact, fruits not vegetables.

If you havenít tried growing them at home yet, visit your local farmerís market and pick up several varieties to taste and experiment with to help you decide which ones you want to begin growing at home.

Finding yellow or golden tomatoes as starter plants is often as simple as visiting a local heirloom plant sale early in the season. Many of our local garden centers also sell heirloom tomatoes in spring. Visit your favorites to look at their selection.

Yellow tomatoes have a higher sugar content than their counterparts in other colors. This gives them a sweeter taste and often milder flavor, not acidic. Many of them have hints of fruity flavors and are delicious any way you slice them.

The interesting thing thatís unknown to many gardeners is that yellow tomatoes have been around a very long time. Traditionally, before modern agriculture became such a big business, home gardeners grew dozens, if not hundreds of varieties of tomatoes in private vegetable gardens. Many of these were phased out as modern agriculture practices focused in on just a small percentage of the vast number of tomato varieties in existence.

As a growing wave and revival of these classic heirloom tomatoes began to swell, private tomato growers and gardeners, who passed down these treasured seeds from generation to generation, began to share and propagate, once again, these hard-to-find, specialty plants.

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Like their red counterparts, yellow tomatoes come in a variety of shapes,sizes, colors and flavors. These include the tiniest cherry and pear tomatoes to the largest beefsteak and brandy wine tomatoes. In addition to their size, colors vary from near white to bright school bus yellow.

What many people like about yellow tomatoes is that they are lower in acid content than red tomatoes. Some growers have even developed varieties that are nearly 100 percent acid-free. This means that yellow tomatoes have less vitamin C than red tomatoes; however, they contain more niacin and folate.

For people who love tomatoes but canít handle the acid of red strains, growing yellow tomatoes is a great option. Yellow tomatoes can be used just like red ones in any dish where tomatoes are among the ingredients. From pizza sauces and salads to ketchup, yellow tomatoes bring their distinct and unusual flavors to the forefront.

Here is a sampler of some of the best yellow or golden tomatoes available. Look for these varieties at a garden center near you, at heirloom plant sales or in finer seed catalogs such as Wisconsinís Jung Seed.

Yellow pear

A classic heirloom variety, the tiny yellow pear tomato is a prolific producer of small, pear-shaped, golden yellow tomatoes. Sweet and fruity, yellow pear tomatoes can be used anywhere other bite-sized tomatoes are used. Be sure to string the vines sufficiently as these plants produce a lot of fruit. This is a tomato everyone should grow in their garden.

Lemon boy

Yellow brandy wine

The intensely sweet flavor of this classic tomato is one of the most highly rated as far as production and flavor among all tomatoes, regardless of color. These plants produce fruit late in the season.

Green Zebra

One of the most beautiful of all tomatoes, the fruits are large and bright yellow with green stripes and streaks. This is a favorite tomato found at many farmerís markets and used heavily by chefs.

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Giraffe

With a meaty red interior covered in a golden yellow skin, this is one unusual tomato. This variety originates from Russia and is known to keep incredibly well in storage, up to 5 months.

Moonglow

Sometimes referred to as the ďperfectĒ golden tomato, this is a medium to large tomato often found at farm markets and roadside stands. Great color.

Tangerine

An heirloom tomato, tangerine is known to grow well in cooler areas and is a heavy producer of fruits with a bright, golden-orange color.

Little blonde girl

This is an heirloom cherry tomato that is well liked as its fruits are crack resistant.

Golden Roma

This Roma tomato that grows to a golden or light golden-orange color has a nice smooth, sweet flavor. It is especially good in sauces and pastes.

Golden honey bunch

One of many yellow grape tomatoes, this variety originates from the classic red honeybunch tomato. The tiny fruits are grown in long clusters on the plant.